Tilt-Shift Photoshop Tutorial

Creating Fake Tilt-Shift Using Photo Editing Software

I have an obsession of creating miniature model-like shots, which is widely known as tilt-shift effect.

At the moment, the easiest way to achieve this kind of shot is using a tilt-shift lens.

Unfortunately, the tilt-shift lenses are quite expensive, and I started to search for an inexpensive way of turning my photograph into a miniature-like shot.

On this page, you'll find a very easy step-by-step tutorial of creating fake tilt-shift effect using Adobe Photoshop. Further down the page, I also lists free online photo editor which allows you to upload your own picture and create your own miniature like photos.

Note: This page contains lots of images, so please wait until all images are loaded correctly. I've reduced the image size to 550pixel so the page will load faster. You can click on the image to see its larger version. All images will be opened in Photobucket and are copyrighted to Deyani.

What is Tilt-Shift Effect?

Tilt-shift effect is basically creating a miniature-like photograph. It can be achieved by using the expensive tilt-shift lenses, in which the photographer manipulates the angle of the camera & the depth of field to make some part of the image focused and blurred.

By blurring some part of the image, it will create an illusion that the more focused object is smaller when comparing with the blurred object.

Tips: Never work on the original layer, always duplicate the layer to do your Photoshop work

- On this duplicate layer, rename it to "Tilt-Shift Effect"

- Press Q to activate the Quick Mask Mode

STEP 2

- Press G to activate the gradient tool

- Choose the Reflected Gradient and tick on the transparency box

STEP 3

- Draw the gradient vertically, from the point where you want the focus to be, to the part where you want the focus to end.

As an example, for the image below, I want the focus to be at middle of the image, hence, the vertical line starts and ends at the middle of the image.

Tips: This technique requires lots of practice. So if you're not happy with your first attempt, try it again and again until you're happy with your focus selection.

STEP 4

- After applying the gradient, your picture will look something like the picture below. The blurred part of your image will be in red (transparent).

STEP 5

- If you're happy with the focus selection, turn off the Quick Mask Mode simply by pressing Q

- On a standard mode, you'll see part of the image is selected. Note: This part is the focus part.

STEP 6

- Press Ctrl-F or Go to Filter - Blur - Lens Blur to blur some part of the image

- Important: tick on the invert box. It will make the selection area focused and the other area blurred.

- You can change the settings of the shape, radius, rotation, etc here. Activate the preview, so you'll see how the changes effect your image

- After applying the lens blur, my image looks like this:

STEP 7

- Tune-up the image using hue/saturation setting. Play with it until you're happy with your final image.

The final image will look like this:

Create your very own tilt-shift picture online

If you do not have Photoshop or any other photo-editing software, now you can create your very own tilt-shift picture on these two websites below.

It's very easy, just upload your picture on the website, adjust the setting / blur / strength / focus point and when you're done, save it to your computer. You can re-touch as many pictures as you want, for free!

My favorite tilt-shift online generator, simple upload your picture in jpeg/jpg format, play with its user-friendly focus size to adjust the image selection, and you're done. Moreover, there is an advanced controls to enhance your image's color, defocus the strength and the gradients as well as adjusting the bokeh shape.

2. Arts & Mobile - Tilt-Shift Generator

Another favorite of mine, this is originally an i device application, but now we can simply open the image and apply the tilt-shift effect on Arts & Mobile website. After you're done, just save your image to your computer. Extremely easy.

Tilf-Shift Lens

Creating a tilt-shift effect on Photoshop is a cheat-way of producing a tilt-shift effect on our picture.

If I win a lottery, I would love to purchase the tilt-shift lens. It will bring my photography journey to a new level.

If you have other way of doing fake tilt-shift effect on Photoshop or other photo-editing software, I'd love to hear from you. I discovered tilt-shift photography three weeks ago, so at the moment, I am still learning about this amazing effect.

And if you have any other comment / feedback, feel free to leave your feedback below.

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boubee 5 years ago

awesome tut, thanks alot :)

Gala98 5 years ago

love this effect &amp; very well explained. Nice lens, time for me to go try this I think :) xx

CherryDavis LM 5 years ago

I love tilt shift! I need to do some of these myself!

anonymous 5 years ago

great...i love tilt shift :)

adamfrench 5 years ago

Impressive lens, thumbs up

DianaPrice LM 5 years ago

Great lens! I love the effect!

anonymous 6 years ago

saya juga suka fotografi ni.. nice share sis

nagajna 6 years ago

I'll try!

pico88 6 years ago

good tutorial for photo editing thanks

Indigo Janson 6 years agofrom UK

What a wonderful tutorial. This is just the kind of thing I love to play around with. I don't have Photoshop but will have a go with my photo editor and see what I can come up with!

Mary Beth Granger 6 years agofrom O'Fallon, Missouri, USA

Very interesting....I was wondering what tilt-shifting was about. Blessed.

kguru1979 lm 6 years ago

Great explanation about tilt shifting...!

Malu Couttolenc 6 years ago

Fantastic tutorial. will try it. The final image looks awesome :)

Lee Hansen 6 years agofrom Vermont

Great tutorial and a fascinating photo technique that's new to me.

hlkljgk 6 years agofrom Western Mass

great tutorial - thanks

Patricia 6 years ago

This lens is featured on Ten Great Photography Tips

Fox Music 6 years ago

Thank you for this Heads Up Information on Tilt-Shift Phototography

NoYouAreNot 6 years ago

I will most certainly try it out. I love miniatures - I mean real ones - and this will give me plenty to play with!

pixelposy 6 years ago

I love tilt-shift photography. The tiny worlds are amazing, I think you see more in the scene, then if they weren't done tilt-shift. I thought you might enjoy this tilt-shift movie I came across awhile back. It's by Keith Loutit called Little Sydney, I wrote about it at www.pixelposy.com/2009/03/amazing-photography/

He has quite a few other good ones. Thanks for the enjoyable lens and photoshop tutorial, love those equally!

Patricia 6 years ago

Very cool lens! I am blessing it and putting it on my photography tips lens!